chapter 3

Chapter 3: Uninvited Guests

The rain continued long into the night.

Valeria Rossi stood in her private office overlooking the harbor. The city lights shimmered against the wet streets below, but her attention remained fixed on the tablet in front of her.

Three reports.

Three warnings.

Three separate confirmations that someone was watching.

That wasn't coincidence.

Someone was preparing for something.

A knock sounded at the door.

"Enter."

Her head of security stepped inside.

"Signora Rossi."

"What is it?"

"The vehicle outside the eastern gate left approximately twenty minutes ago."

Valeria folded her arms.

"Did we identify the occupants?"

"No."

She didn't like that answer.

Not one bit.

Before she could respond, her phone vibrated.

Andrea.

Valeria answered immediately.

"Tell me you have good news."

"Depends."

Valeria sighed.

"That bad?"

"Worse."

Andrea's voice carried an unusual seriousness.

"I found another breach."

Valeria walked toward the window.

"Where?"

"Not my network this time."

A pause.

"The Blackthorne network."

Valeria froze.

The Blackthornes.

One of the most powerful organizations in Europe.

Someone was targeting them too.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

"Are you certain?"

"Absolutely."

Valeria considered the implications.

This wasn't personal.

This wasn't revenge.

This was something bigger.

"If they're targets too, then we're dealing with a common enemy."

"That's what I'm thinking."

Neither woman liked the conclusion.

The Blackthornes were rivals.

Not allies.

Yet the facts were becoming difficult to ignore.

Someone was coming after all of them.

The call ended moments later.

Valeria stared out at the sea.

For the first time in years, uncertainty settled into her mind.

And she hated uncertainty.

---

Meanwhile, London.

Aubrey Kane adjusted the diamond earrings she wore as she exited another social event.

The charity gala had ended hours ago.

Unfortunately, her work had not.

Her driver opened the car door.

"Home, Miss Kane?"

"Please."

The vehicle pulled away from the curb.

Rain streaked across the windows.

For several minutes everything seemed normal.

Then Aubrey noticed something.

A black SUV.

Following them.

Not unusual by itself.

Except it remained behind them through three separate turns.

Aubrey casually checked her reflection in the glass.

Still there.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

She pressed a discreet button beneath her seat.

Immediately, a secure line connected.

"Control."

A familiar voice answered.

"Yes, Miss Kane?"

"We have company."

The response was instant.

"Confirmed."

Aubrey smiled.

At least her security team was awake.

"How many?"

"One vehicle."

"Armed?"

"Unknown."

The SUV continued following them.

Patient.

Deliberate.

Professional.

Not amateurs.

Definitely not paparazzi.

Which meant only one thing.

Someone wanted information.

Or someone wanted her.

Neither possibility was comforting.

"Let's lose them."

The driver nodded.

Within seconds the car accelerated.

The streets blurred.

Sharp turns.

Unexpected routes.

Sudden lane changes.

Aubrey remained calm throughout.

After all, she had experienced worse.

Several tense minutes later, the SUV disappeared.

Gone.

Just like that.

Yet Aubrey couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't over.

Someone had been watching.

And they wanted her to know it.

---

Berlin.

Andrea Voss sat surrounded by empty coffee cups.

Her eyes burned from staring at screens.

She hadn't slept.

Again.

Not because she couldn't.

Because she refused.

The mystery was too important.

Data filled her monitors.

Names.

Transactions.

Communications.

Patterns.

And finally—

A breakthrough.

Andrea sat upright.

"There you are."

A hidden account.

Encrypted.

Buried beneath layers of security.

Someone had made a mistake.

A tiny mistake.

But a mistake nonetheless.

Andrea quickly accessed the files.

Most were encrypted.

One wasn't.

Her excitement vanished.

The file contained six names.

Valeria Rossi.

Andrea Voss.

Aubrey Kane.

Liam Blackthorne.

Kalix Blackthorne.

Matteo Blackthorne.

Andrea's stomach dropped.

The same six people.

Again.

She immediately copied everything.

Seconds later the file deleted itself.

The account vanished.

Every trace disappeared.

But it was too late.

Andrea had seen enough.

Someone had created a target list.

And they were all on it.

---

At Blackthorne Headquarters.

Liam sat alone in his office.

The city skyline stretched beyond the windows.

Normally he enjoyed the view.

Tonight he barely noticed it.

A soft knock interrupted his thoughts.

"Come in."

Matteo entered.

"You look concerned."

Liam smirked.

"Observant."

Matteo sat opposite him.

"Still thinking about the surveillance?"

"Yes."

Silence settled between them.

Then Matteo spoke.

"What if we contact them?"

Liam raised an eyebrow.

"The women?"

Matteo nodded.

"Just to talk."

Liam almost laughed.

The idea was ridiculous.

The Rossi, Voss, and Kane organizations had spent years avoiding partnerships.

Trust wasn't something their world offered freely.

Yet despite that, Liam found himself considering it.

Because Matteo wasn't wrong.

A common enemy changed everything.

Before Liam could answer, the office door burst open.

Kalix entered.

His expression was grim.

Never a good sign.

"What happened?" Liam asked.

Kalix tossed a folder onto the desk.

"One of our warehouses was hit."

The room became silent.

Liam opened the folder.

Photographs.

Damage reports.

Security footage.

The footage stopped abruptly.

As though someone had erased portions of it.

Professional work.

Calculated work.

The same pattern.

The same enemy.

Liam slowly closed the folder.

Someone had just crossed a line.

And that someone was becoming bolder.

Much bolder.

---

Elsewhere.

In a hidden location known only to a handful of people, a figure sat before dozens of monitors.

Every screen displayed information.

Maps.

Photographs.

Schedules.

Security reports.

The six targets.

Everything was proceeding exactly as planned.

A second figure entered the room.

"Phase Two?"

The first figure smiled.

"Begin it."

"What about the Blackthornes and the women?"

The smile widened.

"They're already reacting."

"Good."

The room fell silent.

Outside, thunder echoed across the night sky.

The game was moving forward.

And neither side yet understood the true danger approaching them.

Soon they would.

Very soon.

Because Phase Two was about to begin.

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